Description
Hearty Italian white bean soup delights palates with rich, comforting flavors from Tuscany’s culinary traditions. Fragrant herbs and silky beans blend perfectly, inviting you to savor each spoonful of this classic Mediterranean comfort dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cans (15 oz each) white beans
- 1 onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
Creamy Components:
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Drain and rinse white beans thoroughly, setting aside for later use.
- Dice onion and mince garlic with precision to ensure even flavor distribution.
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat, allowing it to shimmer slightly before adding chopped onions.
- Sauté onions for 4-5 minutes until translucent and softened, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add minced garlic and cook for additional 30-45 seconds, releasing aromatic compounds.
- Pour vegetable broth into the pot, incorporating white beans and dried thyme.
- Bring liquid to a gentle simmer, reducing heat to maintain steady temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Use immersion blender or standard blender to puree soup until smooth and creamy consistency is achieved.
- Stir in heavy cream, butter, and grated parmesan cheese, allowing ingredients to meld together.
- Season with salt and black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Chop fresh parsley and sprinkle over soup as final garnish just before serving.
- Ladle into warm bowls and serve immediately while soup maintains optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Perfectly rinse beans to remove excess starch and ensure a smooth, clean soup texture without grittiness.
- Sauté onions and garlic slowly to develop deep, rich caramelized flavors that enhance the overall soup complexity.
- Use an immersion blender for easier blending directly in the pot, reducing cleanup and minimizing potential splatter.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk and nutritional yeast instead of parmesan to maintain creamy consistency and add depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg